Musical conductor&#39;s baton rack

ABSTRACT

A vertical rack used for the placement and storage of a musical conductor&#39;s batons so as to minimize or prevent baton shaft from becoming warped when stored in a flat or horizontal position. The said rack having a base  12  of sufficient thickness and width or diameter to support rack without tipping over. A decorative machined spindle  16  attached into the base  12  and the top  20  and of sufficient height to accommodate various lengths of batons in a suspended vertical position while preventing the baton shaft from touching the base  12  surface. A top  20  of adequate diameter or width to allow several baton shafts to pass through and be supported by their handles. Clear plastic tubes  24  affixed into the top of riser  14  and into the lower surface of the top  20  which allows the baton shaft to pass through affording additional protection.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION—FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a wooden rack designed to allow storage of a music Conductor's batons in a vertical position when not in use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION—PRIOR ART

A staff or baton used by the conductor of an orchestra, band, or choir serves the purpose of giving the music beat and guides the performers in tempo and dynamics. The expense of purchasing several batons, which are manufactured with different shaft lengths, can be costly when determined to be of unsightly or useless appearance. The importance of using a straight baton for signaling the musicians at the right time can not be: over emphasized. There are currently no stands or racks that will provide a method of storing a baton in a vertical position which will afford protection from becoming warped or damaged. After a period of time a baton shaft can become warped or bent rather than straight as the result of being stored in a horizontal or flat position. An example here would be that of a billiard cue stick which is similar in shape but not size. Cue sticks must be stored vertically to eliminate or minimize a warped or bent condition and so must music conductor's batons.

A customer may purchase with the baton, or batons, accessories for the purpose of storing or carrying batons. However, current designs allow the batons to be stored in a horizontal or flat position. In addition, a nylon bag may be purchased for the purpose of transporting batons from one location to another. Both designs allow for the possibility of damage to occur and after extended storage can result in a warped shaft.

Also available from several manufacturing companies for use by conductors are sheet music stands or podiums. These stands are used for the purpose of holding the sheet music being performed by an orchestra or choir. A conductor's stand usually will have a trough or receptacle which will allow the positioning of batons and pencils. However these troughs or receptacles allow the batons to lie in a flat or horizontal position which also tends to propagate or reproduce the warped or curved condition.

The current designs do not generally allow for the display of batons in the conductors office, or musical auditorium, in a format conducive for protecting the baton shaft from becoming warped. This invention would afford the opportunity for an individual to display up to six batons in a decorative rack while protecting the batons from damage.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION—OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

Accordingly, the invention for which this application is submitted has several objects and advantages over current designs:

-   -   (a) to provide a method of storing conductors batons in a         vertical configuration which will remove any downward weight or         pressure from being exerted on the baton shaft.     -   (b) to provide a rack that can be manufactured from a variety of         wood products such as maple, oak, ash, or walnut etc, and         brilliantly finished with multiple stain colors.     -   (c) to provide a decorative display instrument for batons that         may be used by conductors, and/or music teachers in a class room         environment or in the office or home.

Further objects and advantages are to provide a rack that will provide a storage location that will prevent or minimize the opportunity to damage batons when not in use. In addition too wood products the baton racks may be produced from steel or aluminum. And could be either molded from a casting or hand fabricated. Further a plastic injection molded rack could also be manufactured in several different colors. The cost to manufacturing these racks would be approximately $38.00 U.S.

SUMMARY

This invention will provide a rack for the purpose of allowing the placement and storage of batons used by music conductor's and/or music teachers. It will serve the purpose of protecting the batons from damage as the result of lying flat.

DRAWINGS—FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates a wood product rack with circular base and top when viewed from an angular position.

FIG. 2 illustrates the circular top of a wood product rack with six access holes for batons to pass through and protective felt pads around each opening.

FIG. 3 illustrates a wood product rack with a square base and square top with the addition of a square riser attached to the base. Additionally this view adds the option of a plurality of clear plastic tubing affording greater baton shaft protection. DRAWINGS - Reference Numerals 10 adhesive felt pads 12 round or square rack base 14 square riser 16 spindle 18 tenons 20 round or square rack top 22 access holes for batons 24 clear plastic tubes 26 handle 28 protective felt pads 30 access holes for baton shafts

DETAILED DESCRIPTION—FIG. 1—PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A proposed invention for a music conductor's baton rack is illustrated in FIG. 1 (angular side view). The rack base 12 is 1.905 cm (0.750″) thick and 15.24cm (6.0″) in diameter. The base 12 is manufactured from a wood product and has a decorative router design around the circumference of the top edge. A 1.27 cm (0.50″) round adhesive felt pad 10 is placed at four opposing locations on the bottom of the base to prevent scratches from occurring on desk top or other wood furniture surfaces.

The center spindle 16 will be cut on a lathe to form a decorative design. Spindle 16 for this invention range in length from 27.94 cm (11.0″), to 43.18 cm (17.0″) so as to serve the purpose of accommodating several different lengths of batons. The spindle 16 is 2.54 cm (1.0″) at the greatest diameter, with a 0.952cm (0.375″) round tenon 18 projecting 0.952 cm (0.375″) from each end. Each tenon 18 is fastened into the center of the base 12 and top 20.

The rack top 20 consist of a round 1.905 cm (0.750″) thick wood product that is 10.16 cm (4.0″) in diameter with decorative router cutting around the circumference of the bottom and top edges. There are six access holes 22 drilled completely through the top at opposing locations to allow the baton shafts to pass through. The access holes 22 are 0.79 cm (0.3125″) in diameter and have protective felt pads 28 around all baton shaft access holes 22. Baton handles are allowed to rest against the protective felt pads 28 to support the weight of the baton in a vertical position and also to protect the handle from damage. The baton shaft tip is not allowed to touch the rack base 12.

A wood product handle 26 completes the assembly and is cut on a lathe to form a round decorative design. The handle 26 is 7.62 cm (3.0″) in length and is 1.905 cm (0.750″) at the greatest diameter. There is a tenon 18 fastened 0.952 cm (0.375″) down into the top 20 of rack. The handle 26 serves as a gripping point for transporting the rack from on location to another.

OPERATION—FIGS. 1, 2, 3

Musical conductor's and/or music teacher's baton shafts are inserted through the top 20 access holes 22 of rack and protrude down to a point just above the base 12 which prevents the baton shaft tip from touching the base 12. The baton is suspended in the rack in a vertical position by the baton handle which rest against the protective felt pads 28 attached to the circumference of each access hole 22 on the top 20 of rack. The point or end of the baton shaft does not touch the surface of the base 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION—FIG. 2—PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

For the purpose of additional clarity this view illustrates the circular top 20 with six access holes 22 to allow the baton shafts to pass through the top 20 of rack. In addition, protective felt pads 28 around the circumference of each access hole 22 is also shown.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION—FIG. 3—ADDITIONAL EMBODIMENTS

A proposed invention for a music conductor's baton rack is illustrated in FIG. 3 (side view). The rack base 12 is 1.905 cm (0.750″) thick and 13.97 cm (5.5″) square. The base 12 is manufactured from a wood product and has a decorative router design cut along the four top edges of base 12. A 1.27 cm (0.50″) round adhesive felt pad 10 is placed at four opposing locations on the bottom of the base 12 to prevent scratches from occurring on a desk top or other wood furniture surfaces.

There is a square riser 14 attached to the base 12 which is 10.16 cm (4.0″) square and is 7.62 cm (3.0″) high. The riser 14 has a decorative router design cut along all four top edges. There are four access holes 30 drilled into the riser 14 at four opposing locations. These four access holes 30 align vertically with the access holes 22 drilled through the rack top 20. The access holes 30 are drilled to a depth of 7.62 cm (3.0″), and are 0.7938 cm (0.3126″) in diameter

FIG. 3 illustrates the addition of four clear plastic tubes 24 which serves the purpose of additional protection for the baton shafts during storage. The plastic tubes 24 are attached to the baton shaft access holes 30 in the rack riser 14 and extend vertically to the corresponding baton shaft access holes 22 in the rack top 20. Plastic tubes 24 are attached at the rack top 20 and the rack riser 14. The four clear plastic tubes 24 are 0.635 cm (0.250″) inside diameter and 0.7937 cm (0.3125″) outside diameter. The plastic tubes 24 range in length from 25.4 cm (10.0″) to 35.56 cm (14″).

The center spindle 16 will be cut on a lathe to form a decorative design. Spindle 16 for this embodiment range in length from 20.32 cm (8.0″), to 30.48 cm (12.0″), so as to serve the purpose to accommodating several different baton shaft lengths. The spindles 16 are 2.54 cm (1.0″) at the greatest diameter, with a 0.9525 cm (0.375″) round tenon 18 projecting 0.952cm (0.375″) from each end. Each tenon 18 is fastened into the center of the riser 14 and top 20.

The rack top 20 consist of a square 1.905 cm (0.750″) thick wood product that is 10.16 cm (4.0″) square with decorative router cutting along the four bottom and top edges.

There are four access holes 22 drilled completely through the top 20 at opposing locations to allow the baton shafts to pass through. The access holes 22 are 0.7938 cm (0.3126″) in diameter and have protective felt pads 28 around all of the baton shaft access holes 22. Baton handles are allowed to rest against the protective felt pads 28 to support the weight of the baton in a vertical position and also to protect the handle from damage.

A wood product handle 26 completes the assembly and is cut on a lathe to form a round decorative design. The handle 26 is 7.62 cm (3.0″) in length and is 1.905 cm (0.750″) at the greatest diameter. There is a tenon 18 fastened 0.952 cm (0.375″) down into the top 20 of rack. The handle 26 serves as a gripping point for transporting the rack from one location to another.

CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE

Accordingly, the reader will see that the music conductor's baton rack comprised in this invention can be used to hold and store several batons in a convenient manner. The invention provides a decorative device by which batons may be displayed when not in use.

-   -   it permits the manufacture of a rack that will provide         protection for a music conductor and/or music teachers batons.     -   it provides an attractive display device for batons in home,         school music rooms, or office environments.     -   It provides a storage venue for batons in a vertical         configuration that will minimize or prevent damage to the         expensive batons.         Although the description above contains certain specifications,         these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the         invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the         presently preferred embodiment of this invention. For example         the conductor's baton rack may be manufactured from wood or         metal to provide different designs and shapes such as oval or         triangular base and top. Thus the scope of the invention should         be determined by the appended claims and their legal         equivalents, rather than by the examples given. 

1. A storage rack for positioning music conductors batons in a vertical position, comprising: a base of sufficient thickness and width to provide upright stability, and one decorative spindle attached to the center of said base and of sufficient vertical height so as to prevent said baton tip from touching said base, and a top attached to said spindle of adequate thickness and width and having a plurality of holes to allow said batons to pass through and be suspended by their handles, and a decorative circular handle attached to the center of said top allowing said rack to be moved from one location to another, and
 6. The said storage rack of claim 1 further includes a riser of smaller dimension than said base being attached to said base, comprising: a riser of less width then said base but of greater vertical thickness than said base having a plurality of holes through said riser in a vertical direction, and a plurality of clear tubing of sufficient lengths to attach down into said riser and extending vertically and attaching up into said top. 